Developmental Characteristics in the Bilingual-Bicultural Preschooler as Measured by the "Minnesota Child Development Inventory."

Gallagher, Rosina M.; Balasubramonian, K.

Three major purposes of this investigation were: (1) to identify, evaluate, and adapt a standardized instrument that may be used in the evaluation of Spanish-English bilingual preschool programs; (2) to compare the norms based on the standardization sample with those on a local sample; and (3) to identify an index of general development for the target group in terms of both local and original Minnesota Child Development Inventory (MCDI) norms. The sample included 364 preschoolers of lower middle socioeconomic, Spanish-speaking families in a large metropolitan area in the Midwest. The results of the study indicate that, while the comprehensive nature of the MCDI warrants its use in similar programs, local norms especially suited to the specific population should be developed. The desirability of alternate administration techniques is also evident. (Author)